This year, the yearbook committee invites you to participate in deciding on the theme for the 2024-2025 yearbook. The poll closes on Friday, September 13 at 3:15 PM. Be sure to vote!

Click here to vote!

TEAM School teachers have been busy preparing to open the doors tomorrow and welcome all of the students for the first day of school! 

New parents are invited to TEAM School tomorrow at 7:00 PM to attend an information night - a community-building event for new families. Learn about the types of support for classes and individual students. Principal Ms. McDonald will also talk about TEAM School's communication expectations from teachers to parents and the program in general. 

If you would like to attend, please contact the school office at 905-279-7200.

This year’s Terry Fox Run campaign, called #NoMatterWhat celebrates Terry’s determination and persistence. When running his Marathon of Hope in 1980, Terry faced many challenges along the way, but he kept going – no matter the obstacles, no matter the journey, no matter the odds. We know that schools from coast to coast to coast will carry on his legacy to raise funds for cancer research and display their amazing #NoMatterWhat efforts for this year’s Run.

Wednesday, September 18th will mark TEAM School’s 31st year participating in the Terry Fox Run. Over the years, we have raised more than $125,000. This year, TEAM School’s fundraising goal is $2500. If every student raises just $25, we will surpass this goal.

You can donate here. 

As administrative principal of the schools, Mr. Starkey's main role is to work behind-the-scenes on anything that is not directly related to curriculum. Mr. Starkey was one of the founders of the Private Schools' Athletic Association (PSAA) and has been both the elementary and high school athletic directors for Mentor/TEAM.

When I was in elementary school (back when school photos were printed in black and white!), I played community baseball, soccer, and hockey. At school, I was a member of every “Colborne Cyclones” team there was. Since it was a small school out in the country, there weren’t a lot of options for school clubs. When I got to high school, I continued to do athletics even though there were more extra-curricular options available to me. Looking back, I would like to have a chat with “Grade 9 Me” and tell him that, even though most of the GDCI athletes only did sports, he should get involved in music and drama and be a more well-rounded person!

At Mentor College & TEAM School, our primary focus is on academics and we know from the success of our students in university that we are doing an excellent job at that. We work hard…but we also play hard! Tomorrow, each division will be releasing a list of all the clubs and teams available to our students this year and we encourage you and your child to sit down and discuss which extra-curricular activities they might want to join. Some activities occur before school, some during recess breaks, and some after school.

Clubs and teams are a wonderful opportunity for students to discover others with similar interests and new friendships can form…particularly with students who are new to our schools or who have moved to a new division in the school. And if you have one of those children who is focused on just one thing (sports, drama, academics, arts, and music) encourage them to try at least one new thing this year. It was Grade 12 before I discovered that being in plays and that singing and playing instruments was something I really enjoyed. If I had only known that years before!

Chris Starkey
Administrative Principal
Mentor College & TEAM School

An opportunity to meet & socialize with fellow parents and members of The Mentor TEAM Parent Association!

Come by any time between 8:30AM - 10:00AM:

Main Campus - Tues Sept 17th (Outside Main Entrance)
TEAM School - Wed Sept 18th (Outside TEAM Entrance)
Primary Campus- Thurs Sept 19th (Sideyard behind Parking)

A series of construction projects took place over the summer. The parking lot at the Main Campus was repaved - giving it a fresh new look!

The Main office underwent a complete renovation in the month of August. Be sure to stop by for a look and say "hello" to secretary Ms. Owens!

As they return after the summer break, track athletes and avid track walkers will be happy to find a freshly resurfaced track!

In last week's email (sent out with student schedules), those of you taking a Grade 12 course were informed that Grade 12 books could be purchased from The MT Room. Here is a listing of the books (new and some used) available there:

Accounting Textbook, Accounting Working Papers, Advanced Functions, Biology Textbook, Biology Study Guide, Calculus and Vectors, Challenge and Change, Chemistry, History Novel (Civilization), Philosophy Textbook, Philosophy Logic Notes, Philosophy Novel (Sophie’s World), Physics, World Issues

ONLINE ORDERING:

Go to themtroom.com, select your books (new books only), and pay via PayPal (note that this is the only debit/credit payment option this year)

The following day, your books will be ready for you to pick up in the Music Office during store hours

If you order on or before August 28th, the books will be ready for you for pickup on the 29th.

IN-STORE ORDERING:

Go to the Music Office during store hours and pick out your new or used books.

Pay with etransfer, cash, or cheque (no credit/debit payment available)

STORE HOURS (in the Music Office)

Thursday, August 29, noon to 3:00pm

Tuesday to Thursday, September 3 to 6, 8:30 to 1:00

After September 6th, The MT Room will no longer be selling textbooks so do not delay!

A series of construction projects took place over the summer. The parking lot at the Main Campus was repaved - giving it a fresh new look!

The Main office underwent a complete renovation in the month of August. Be sure to stop by for a look and say "hello" to secretary Ms. Owens!

As they return after the summer break, track athletes and avid track walkers will be happy to find a freshly resurfaced track!

In last week's email (sent out with student schedules), those of you taking a Grade 12 course were informed that Grade 12 books could be purchased from The MT Room. Here is a listing of the books (new and some used) available there:

Accounting Textbook, Accounting Working Papers, Advanced Functions, Biology Textbook, Biology Study Guide, Calculus and Vectors, Challenge and Change, Chemistry, History Novel (Civilization), Philosophy Textbook, Philosophy Logic Notes, Philosophy Novel (Sophie’s World), Physics, World Issues

ONLINE ORDERING:

Go to themtroom.com, select your books (new books only), and pay via PayPal (note that this is the only debit/credit payment option this year)

The following day, your books will be ready for you to pick up in the Music Office during store hours

If you order on or before August 28th, the books will be ready for you for pickup on the 29th.

IN-STORE ORDERING:

Go to the Music Office during store hours and pick out your new or used books.

Pay with etransfer, cash, or cheque (no credit/debit payment available)

STORE HOURS (in the Music Office)

Thursday, August 29, noon to 3:00pm

Tuesday to Thursday, September 3 to 6, 8:30 to 1:00

After September 6th, The MT Room will no longer be selling textbooks so do not delay!

As we near the end of the first quarter in the High School Division, I have been reflecting on how far we have come since March 13 – the last in-person day of the 2019-2020 school year. At that time, it was decided by the school that March Break would be extended by two weeks. Of course, the extended closure ended up lasting until the end of the school year. Since March 13, teachers have been transforming how they teach your children. There are countless examples of this both inside and outside of the classroom.

On Tuesday morning, a teacher shared with me that, by putting her camera up to the microscope, students learning remotely were able to do their analyses using the same observations seen by the students in class! The next day, I walked past a business class where a remote-learning student was co-presenting with an in-class student. Yesterday, I watched a virtual guest speaker talk to a Civics class about her experience as a lawyer.

Outside of the class, we have become comfortable with new entry and exit routines, safety protocols, and outdoor classrooms. Students and teachers have also further developed technical fluency, using Microsoft products to provide immediate feedback to remote-learning and in-class students alike.

Our world is very different today than it was in March, but we have adapted, grown, and continued to learn. Our students have become accustomed to longer classes, new schedules, and other changes to routines. Teachers have had the challenges of rethinking assessments, developing lessons, and finding creative new ways of ensuring that lesson delivery remains of the highest quality.

Fortunately, students and teachers have continued to apply the work ethic that is synonymous with Mentor College and TEAM School. I wanted to take a moment to share how grateful I am for everything that has transpired this school year and also for the opportunities that will arise throughout the rest of the school year.

Aneil Panchal
Assistant Vice Principal
High School Division

Today is “Let’s Talk Day” in Canada. We are in the 4th week of remote learning (and the second lockdown of the pandemic) so its timing could not be more relevant.

Everyone would love to be back-to-school with our pre-pandemic “normal” and while I think it is nice to look forward to this day, it is clear that it will be a long time before COVID-19 will be in our rear-view mirror. In the meantime, we are all doing our best to apply the “new normal” to our lives. For our students, it means being more attached to the same screens that parents scolded them for over-using 12 months ago. For our staff members, it means not only teaching material lessons but also learning a new suite of software (for everything from daily lessons to final evaluations) in order to best deliver to their students in a remote-learning setting.

For an individual student or teacher, the “new normal” would be tough enough on its own. When you add in the dynamics of a family where everyone is needing the time, space, and devices in order to do their daily tasks, however, the physical and mental health of everyone suffers. Any parent who is ensuring the kids are logged in and engaged in school lessons, working from home themselves, and still managing to keep everyone fed, dressed, and clean (particularly with our younger students) has undiagnosed superhero powers! This of course also applies to our teachers who have school-aged children who are learning at the same time Dad or Mom is teaching.

We know everyone is struggling at times and we are also aware that the lockdown has affected some of you greatly. It is OK to feel this way and it is even more OK to talk about it. Mentor’s high school principal, Mr. Whyte, says:

It is very important for our high school students to reach out and talk to someone, especially during these days of isolation. Our guidance counsellors are available every day to listen and help. Guidance is a valuable resource for students, parents and teachers and we are happy this service continues to be of use.

Mr. Whyte loves the outdoors and when I asked him for his best advice for remote learners, teachers, and parents, he suggests:

I cannot overstate the importance of physical and outdoor activity. We should all aim to get outside for some fresh air every day to help refresh us from the screen time we all endure each day.

Our director, Mr. Macdonald, has noticed the sense of community and how teachers and students have been a great source of peer-to-peer strength for each other:

When I visit a class that is remote learning, one of the things I enjoy seeing most is the students interacting with each other. When I start a staff meeting I know that the teachers will log on a few minutes early just to have a moment to see each other and to socialize. It’s amazing to see how students and teachers manage to support each other and lift spirits, even in a virtual setting.

This sense of community goes for our parents as well. We know that you are keeping in touch with each other and fostering some of the friendships that have developed through your association with our school. We have been receiving messages from parents who want to thank a specific teacher or the school in general for the remote learning programme; teachers seem to get these needed bits of praise just when they are needed most. We have also heard from parents who feel that they (or their children) are “failing” because they have trouble juggling all the new responsibilities that the pandemic has been placed upon them. Reach out and let us know. We might be able to help in a tangible way; even if that means just listening, perhaps that can help in some small way.

Most of all we are thankful for the students and there are wonderful little stories shared among staff that keep us going. My favourite so far is the teacher who, seeing that the class was starting to get off-track, used the “stern face” that works so well in the classroom setting…only to have the students all call out that “your screen is frozen”!

We all need to talk to each other, not just today, but every day. Take a look at some of the resources available on the “Let’s Talk” website and share them with your family. If you need help, reach out. If you are in a position of giving help, reach out. We are blessed with a school community that truly cares for each other.

Chris Starkey
Admininstrative Principal
Mentor College/TEAM School